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NGC 5068 in Southern Virgo

Full Frame

 

NGC 5068 is a lovely busy southern face-on barred spiral galaxy in Virgo, approx 7.2' X 6.3' in angular size. It is located approximately 22 million light-years away and has an actual diameter of over 45,000 light-years. Plenty of star forming is going on, evidenced by the many pink ionised hydrogen lumps in the arms of the galaxy. The field is permeated with an extensive spread of very faint brown coloured molecular/Galactic Cirrus dust. On a screen properly calibrated for brightness, this dust can be easily seen, particularly on the left side of the image and arcing up over the galaxy and towards the right, here is an enhanced luminance: pbase.com/image/170651342/original

Many, more distant galaxies, can be found strewn across the back ground of the image.

 

Orion Optics AG12 F3.8

Starlightxpress SXVR-H694, SX USB CFW, SX OAG unit + Atlas Focuser

LHaRGB = 570 90 65 50 50min (bin 1X1)= 13.75 hrs

New Deep-Sky LRGB Astronomik filters

-20C chip temp, flats used but no dark frames.

Focal length 1120mm

Image scale 0.84"/pix

Guide Camera: Starlightxpress Lodestar

 

Comments

Data collected 22 and 24 April 2020, no moon, average to good seeing

 

Equipment setup:

www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/sxvrh694_gear

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Uploaded on April 25, 2020
Taken on May 1, 2020